Media: Things we like

Get your whistles out and put your glowsticks up for the undisputed kings of the "nu-rave" movement, The Klaxons. The group's first full-length album, Myths Of The Near Future, is a blistering debut. Its primary strength is that it mixes so many styles, but still manages to keep everything coherent and fun, and without becoming bogged down in trying to be different, or adhering too much to the rave scene which spawned its sound.

THE CURIOUS HOUSE GUEST ON UK TV GARDENS

Having originally appeared on BBC2 in 2005, The Curious House Guest makes a welcome transfer to commercial TV on UK TV Gardens. The show's presenter, the historian and Country Life journalist Jeremy Musson, puts a variety of toffs at their ease as he noses around their stately piles for a weekend. Our favourite is an episode from the first series, where he visits Chillingham Castle, which is owned by an old colonial called Sir Humphry Wakefield. It makes for some relaxing, yet eccentric, television.

THE REAL BRADFORD CURRY COMPANY

The brainchild of the man behind the Harry Ramsden's chain, Richard Richardson, The Real Bradford Curry Company (www.realbradfordcurry.com) celebrates the best in curry from genuine Bradford restaurants. Customers can bulk-order a range of freeze-dried curries, breads and sauces, and the quality is excellent. The curries might not be that cheap (averaging at around £7), and they have to be pre-ordered for delivery, but for the curry connoisseur, they are an excellent alternative to the local curry house. Get your orders in for Valentine's Day!

JOHNNY VAUGHAN ON CAPITAL FM

Johnny may have slipped below Jamie Theakston in the London ratings, but we applaud Capital's decision to extend his contract. To us, Vaughan sounds like the voice of London; he has a natural affinity with people on the show, which is combined with an energy and character lacking in some of his rivals. It's just depressing that listeners seem to prefer the blander alternatives. Maybe the greater levels of promotion promised by Capital will remedy this situation.

AND ONE THING WE DON'T ...

SHAMELESS ON CHANNEL 4

While we're too old to comment on E4's Skins, we've long been fans of Shameless (from the same production company as the new teenage drama). We can't help feeling, however, that with too many of the original characters now departed, Shameless has finally "jumped the shark". Frank Gallagher is still excellent, but we don't like the new focus on the Maguire family, and we miss Kev and Veronica. Hopefully, this will be the final series before it becomes an even sadder parody of itself.